Why EK Retail Chose Scandit Over Open-Source Barcode Scanning

The question of open source versus proprietary software is never an easy one to answer. Open-source barcode scanning libraries are available, but do they address the needs of enterprise development at scale? Is it better to save costs or get an SDK backed by a reliable team?

You can probably guess our opinion. But you may be curious why one of our customers selected the Scandit Barcode Scanner SDK over a free barcode scanning library. Their example might help you make your own choice.

EK Retail evaluated its options in parallel, under real-world conditions, and made an educated decision to go with the best barcode scanner experience for its employees.

In this Q&A, Yannick Rodermund, Team Coordinator Software Development at EK Retail, tells us his story about why one of the largest retail support groups in Europe chose Scandit.

What problem was EK Retail trying to solve?

Our major use case is having barcode scanners available at trade fairs, so customers can compare products and prices.

Previously, we had been using dedicated scanning devices that created friction between customers and the information they needed. On top of the upfront device investment, processing orders through these devices could take up to a week of our team’s time, adding complexity and maintenance costs for EK.

To solve this problem, we decided to build a native mobile app, so customers could scan products using their own devices.

How did you know free barcode scanning libraries weren’t the right choice?

We started with an open-source barcode scanning package, but found it had inefficient and inaccurate barcode scanning results.

We tested the open-source barcode scanner extensively, including scanning barcodes from computer screens and printed materials. The real challenge came when testing under the same conditions as at our trade fairs.

We have a demo trade fair booth set up in our offices, mimicking the real-world conditions of trade fairs – typically held in large rooms with poor lighting. The open-source library was not fit for purpose in these real-world conditions, particularly in low light or scanning shiny surfaces.

After just a few hours of testing, it was clear that the performance of open source wasn’t sufficient for EK’s needs. This led us to search for commercial alternatives to better meet our needs.

What features did EK want in a new barcode scanning solution?

Performance was key. We needed a solution that scanned fast and effectively in the real-world conditions our customers face when ordering goods at trade fairs.

We were also looking to future-proof our solution by having the option to add advanced smart data capture capabilities. Things like displaying product information, such as name, price, and stock availability, in the camera view would help customers decide what they want by simply scanning a barcode.

How was Scandit different from an open-source barcode scanning solution?

We found that Scandit’s barcode scanning software provided an accurate and super-fast scanning solution that was easy to integrate within our existing EK app.

It was very good for low-light situations and other challenging conditions where the open-source solution failed. Scandit was also good at covering all the device types used by EK customers. Customer feedback has been really positive, saying it is easy to use, very fast, and accurate.

We also liked Scandit’s focus on innovation, which, further down the line, gave us the capability to add augmented reality (AR) functionality to our app to improve customer experience.

How did you evaluate Scandit versus open-source?

Scandit came highly recommended on Google, so we got in touch and started the free trial.

We began by integrating both the free barcode scanning library and Scandit barcode scanning into our app, with a switch to compare performance. We tested them in different situations, and Scandit recognized barcodes much faster, often in under a second, while the open-source solution took several seconds, even in good conditions.

It was clear that Scandit was the superior choice.

What benefits did EK see from using Scandit?

Scandit helped us connect physical elements at our trade fairs seamlessly to digital content. Customers can use their own smartphones to scan and order products, which frees up EK employees to engage more with customers rather than processing orders. The digital ordering process also reduced paper consumption to zero, saving 2,000 order books a year.

On top of this, we estimate our customers’ ordering process to be 3x faster than before. Using MatrixScan AR, which took just two weeks to implement, gave them critical product information in the device camera to help them make decisions faster.

It didn’t take long for all trade fair visitors to adopt the new app, even those who were not digitally native. Switching to a smartphone-based approach also eliminated the need for dedicated scanning devices, saving us significant time, cost, and operational complexities.

Our sister company, EASY Systems, then developed a standalone app called EASY to replace devices they would rent to customers. It took just one to two days to integrate Scandit’s barcode scanning software, enabling EK customers to scan and check stock on shelves in real-time. It also allowed them to update inventory processes automatically via the cloud.

What was previously a manual and cumbersome process is now fully digital, eliminating the need for customers to wait on rental devices and manually maintain inventory spreadsheets.

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How does augmented reality (AR) help with barcode scanning?

Retailers would have just two or three days at our trade fairs to look at 20,000 products. Every time they were interested in purchasing a product, they would have to scan it, view the product details page, add it to the basket, and then repeat the process every time. This required many steps, even if it was just a comparison of one product to another.

We added Scandit MatrixScan AR to assist retailers with comparing and ordering products. You can see information for all the products overlaid as bubbles in your camera’s view, such as names, stock availability, and prices. This means you can compare multiple products at once, without repeating the scanning process for each one.

Would you consider switching back to an open-source barcode scanning library?

EK periodically evaluates free barcode scanning libraries, but Scandit continues to stand out. Beyond its fast and accurate scanning capabilities, Scandit offers valuable support through events and tech experts, helping us get the most out of the SDK’s features. Open-source solutions just don’t match this level of support and expertise.

What’s next for EK Retail?

We have grown to over 1,500 retailers using our EK Retail app and are considering integrating more features into the EASY app. Right now, it’s just using barcode capture, but we’re thinking about adding Scandit ShelfView to help customers compare prices printed out on shelf labels.